Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – A variety of live, in-person performances continue to trickle in: WARTIME CANTEEN FOR A NEW ERA, RANDOM ACTS, and BLOOD MANOR

• By drediman
• October 26, 2020
• No Comments

In a recent post, I wrote about the slow emergence of in-person performances in the city. Since then, more theater artists have braved the desolate waters that has become the New York theater scene. Here’s a roundup of my thoughts on the recent crop of covid-friendly performances that have trickled in.

WARTIME CANTEEN FOR A NEW ERA
Cabaret

On a crisp fall morning a few weekends ago, actor David Greenspan teamed up with En Garde Arts (via the company’s excitingly resourceful “Uncommon Voices: Unexpected Places” programming) to put on a handful of performances of Wartime Canteen for a New Era, (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), a contemporary, 40-minute spin on the historic World War II revues that were designed to lift the spirits of members of the armed forces. Performed outdoors on the front steps of a brownstone in the charming Boerum Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, Mr. Greenspan and accompanist/arranger Jamie Lawrence gave many in the socially-distanced audience (limited to 50) their first taste of live, in-person entertainment in many months. Although Mr. Greenspan has long been a mainstay of many adventurous Off-Broadway endeavors (his epic solo performance of Eugene O’Neill’s monumental Strange Interlude is a favorite memory of mine), I hadn’t associated him with musical theater or cabaret. It turns out that Mr. Greenspan has quite a pleasant and distinctive singing voice, as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of the Great American Songbook. In an unexpected and inspiring turn, he confidently and joyfully ripped into a song list that included both recognizable standards, as well as geekily obscure choices. Mr. Greenspan’s amusing banter was masterful, brimming with the kind of incisive wit that has marked his past stage performances.

RANDOM ACTS
Theater / Off-Broadway

This past weekend, I got a chance to take in Renata Hinrichs’ moving theatrical memoir Random Acts (RECOMMENDED). Performed in Chelsea at the cell – an intriguing venue with an inviting backyard space that’s ideal for intimate outdoor performances – the one-woman show recounts Ms. Hinrichs’ experience growing up in Chicago’s severely segregated South Side as part of a progressive white family during the tense years at the height of the Civil Rights movement. Mostly told from the perspective of a young, innocent Renata, the piece emphasizes the notion that racism is culturally enforced and not innately ingrained within us. It’s an encouraging message that, while not new nor radical by any means, doesn’t hurt being reminded of. Although the play is a tad on the predictable side, it’s nonetheless solidly-structured and performed with generous spirit and warmth by Ms. Hinrich, who easily slips into the shoes of family members (and other characters from her childhood) and occasionally breaks into charming dance interludes. Thankfully, running over just an hour, the play is sweet and falls just on the right side of cloying. For those sitting farther back, there is the option of using the LiveTours app, which gives audiences the ability to audio stream Ms. Hinrichs’ performance through their smartphones/headphones.

BLOOD MANOR
Haunted House / Immersive Theater

In a typical year, which 2020 is most definitely not, haunted houses across the country would be doing gangbuster business during these days leading up to Halloween. Understandably, this isn’t the case this year, as the vast majority of these spooky attractions — in essence, immersive theatrical events involving claustrophobic spaces and actors in extremely close proximity of audience members — aren’t able to operate responsibly. The exception, however, is New York’s Blood Manor (RECOMMENDED), which has managed to get the green light to open shop. By taking significant pains to make the experience covid-friendly, the long-standing haunted house located in Tribeca continues to uphold its reputation as a Halloween-time institution. So how does the modified experience stack up with previous years? Happily, very well, indeed. In fact, the limited capacity requirements – resulting in more of a solo-ish experience – as well as the increased emphasis on darkness, lighting effects, and fog actually heighten the tension, resulting in an arguably more frightening walkthrough (which lasts approximately 15 intense minutes). Additionally, the denizens of Blood Manor (many of them elaborate animatronic creations) of creepy clowns, bloodthirsty creatures, and masked murderers remain intact and seamlessly masked as per required.